Thank you, Modesto Assemblyman Juan Alanis, for defending youth football | Opinion

Youth football

“California Gov. Gavin Newsom blocks proposed ban on youth tackle football: ‘Parents have the freedom to decide’,” (modbee.com, Jan. 17)

When I heard that some members of the California Assembly were trying to ban youth football, I was appalled to say the least. Thankfully, the City of Modesto has an assemblyman who is up in Sacramento fighting for us. Asm. Juan Alanis was the first person to speak out against this attempt to take away activities from our kids and rights from parents who are in the best position to make these decisions for their children.

Because of his quick action and tenacity, this terrible bill was brought to the attention of Gov. Gavin Newsom and was brought to a halt. As a mom whose son played youth football, I thank our assemblyman. My son and I would both agree that his life would be dramatically different without those years playing. Because of the sport, kids will continue to be able to have more opportunities to further their dreams.

As long as he supports parents and our kids, Asm. Alanis will always have my vote.

Leigh Ana Farkas

Modesto

Virginia Corridor proponent

“Modesto project adds half mile to Virginia Corridor Trail,” (modbee.com, Jan 24)

If Modesto City Council members change course on the “design elements” of the new pedestrian bridge on our Virginia Corridor, what does that say about how they think of the 75 community members who got themselves involved years back before involving the whole community at large? This speaks volumes to how three council members seem to do business. First, they seem not to respect the decision process of past councils — which edges toward selfishness on their part. Second, and importantly, this would mean more money spent and more time wasted.

I want to remind the city council that Modesto came into existence because it was built around train tracks approximately 150 years ago. We also have an old, beloved train station that is refurbished and renewed. Let’s continue to carry that very same idea on our Virginia Corridor as it moves north through our wonderful city.

Phyllis Hiemstra

Modesto

Opinion

Dodging the bullet

“Trump racks up endorsements from Republicans in Congress as any resistance that once existed fades,” (modbee.com, Jan. 25)

If we believe the tale that Decoy Don has been telling us — the one about his election being “stolen” — doesn’t this mean that he will have had two terms? And that, sadly, he can’t run for a third?

USA dodges the bullet!

Jack Heinsius

Modesto

A nation led by zombies

“Biden is trying to balance Gaza protests and free speech rights as demonstrators disrupt his events,” (sanluisobispo.com, Jan. 28)

While we haven’t been paying attention, America has become a nation led by zombies. We can’t be sure that our current president can tie his own shoelaces (Joe Biden, to the glee of all MAGA Maniacs, accidentally referred to Donald Trump as “our sitting president”).

We have seen, more than once, that one of the chief executives of the Republican Party, Mitch McConnell, can’t put three consecutive sentences together in public before having to be led off by his aides. Meanwhile, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is blaming Valdimir Putin for the upsurge in anti-Israel protests.

Leading the parade is, of course, our former and still blood-thirsty ex-president who claims to have an “exceptional” IQ (too bad a person’s IQ can’t be measured in negative numbers). In the meantime, our corporate leaders are busy poisoning the atmosphere and the oceans with plastic. We are now ingesting so much of it that if the TSA ever starts monitoring us for plastic we’ll never fly again.

Gene Strohl

San Luis Obispo

Tackling the gun problem

“NRA chief, one of the most powerful figures in US gun policy, says he’s resigning days before trial,” (sanluisobispo.com, Jan. 4)

Earlier this week, I watched with interest as senators grilled social media CEOs, telling them that they owe the public an apology. Sen. Lindsay Graham said they had “blood on their hands” because their platforms had contributed to the deaths of many young people.

While I agree that social media needs better regulation, I found it ironic that senators can condemn others for inaction in the face of rising fatality rates amongst young people when, according to the Pew Research, gun deaths of people under the age of 18 rose 50% from 2019 to 2021, when 2,590 kids died by gunfire.

Senators must attack the gun problem with the same zeal they show for social media companies. So far, they have shown no appetite for enacting gun laws that make it less convenient to use a gun for murder or suicide. They have sat on their (bloody) hands when they could pass laws to reduce gun fatalities.

Mark Lopez

Arroyo Grande